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CHAPLAIN

A priest who serves a chapel or oratory or is appointed to exercise the sacred ministry in an institution, such as a convent or orphanage, hospital or prison. Also a priest or other sacred minister appointed to serve special classes of persons, such as the armed forces, or authorized to lead religious services in the assemblies of fraternal organizations, legislatures, and other bodies. (Etym. Latin cappellanus; from cappella, shrine.)

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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